NBA: Kyrie Irving erupts for 48 points to push Nets past Jazz

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a play during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on January 20, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images/AFP

Kyrie Irving dominated the fourth quarter and finished with a season-high 48 points and 11 rebounds to lift the Brooklyn Nets over the Utah Jazz 117-106 Friday night in Salt Lake City.

Irving broke a 102-102 tie with a deep shot and hit another in the final minutes to help the Nets snap a four-game losing streak.

Irving, who also had six assists and four steals, scored 21 points in the fourth after putting up the same number in the final quarter of Friday’s loss in Phoenix.

Brooklyn, which outscored Utah 15-4 in the final 3:18, hadn’t won since Kevin Durant injured his knee against Miami nearly two weeks ago. The Nets improved to 1-2 on their five-game road trip out West.

Kyrie went OFF tonight.

48 points (18-29 FGM, 8 threes)
11 rebounds
6 assists
4 steals@BrooklynNets W pic.twitter.com/GHlAmRdzx8

— NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2023

Nic Claxton added 20 points and four blocked shots, former Jazz guard Royce O’Neale contributed 13 points, six assists and five rebounds, and Seth Curry scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter for the Nets.

Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 29 points, while Lauri Markkanen totaled 22 points and 11 rebounds. Collin Sexton chipped in with 17 points off the bench.

The Jazz, who were looking to win a third consecutive game for the first time since early November, overcame an early 13-point deficit but were outscored 34-23 in the fourth quarter.

The game was tied at 92-92 when the Nets scored seven straight, capped by an Irving 3-pointer.

Utah responded with a 12-3 run to tie it up again at 102-102, but Irving and Curry then sizzled the nets from long range to boost Brooklyn in crunch time.

O’Neale sparked a 14-point run to catapult the Nets ahead 16-5. Utah used a 10-2 run to close the gap, and the Jazz chipped away at the lead until tying it up at 36-36 on a Clarkson bucket.

The Jazz held a 55-51 halftime lead. Both teams had runs in the third quarter, resulting in a tied score heading into the fourth quarter.